No idea how this ended up in my library but I wouldn't have bought it intentionally. This is really boring and the achievements are extremely grindy. Even if they weren't the minigames aren't that fun. The notes mention methods of obtaining copyrighted stuff for free, but you don't even have to do that. The minigames are essentially flash games, which I suppose amounts to the point of the "game." I think it does what it wants to admirably, but the problem is that isn't valuable or fun. $20 is obscene for this.

A final fanfare for the Zachtronics studio that presents a handful of projects from the cutting room floor. While not strong as a stand-alone entry if you're a fan you'll likely enjoy the majority of this collection.

The game is presented through the trappings of an 80's PC system that you use to connect to a simulated BBS and download the game's entries one at a time. It includes all the anachronistic elements like having to dial up to the internet and wait a few minutes for an entry to 'download'. As much as I found it charming I appreciate it won't resonate with everyone.

As for the collection you have a mix of games that were too small or short to justify their own release, and some tacked on activities. The hack*match game from exapunks, a couple of solitaire games, and a gunpla simulator that lets you cut out, assemble, and paint mecha models. These don't add much beyond padding the content. There's also a series of memos to unlock from the 'former owner' which weave a story through the apps and adds a little extra flavour to the premise.

The four main titles are 20th Century Food Court, Dungeons & Diagrams, ChipWizard Professional, and X'BPGH: The Forbidden Path. D&D is sort of a picross meets sudoku puzzle game which is minimal but entertaining. Food Court is the most fleshed out title and feels like it could be a Zachtronics stand-alone game, but the premise does get repetitive. ChipWizard was perhaps the most inscrutable being built around constructing microchip architecture using pure logic. While X'BPGH is a more experimental entry that feels Cronenburgian and explores a bio-mechanical body horror programming puzzle game.

You can see each title's unique pro's and con's - but they certainly each have potential and plenty of levels to justify the combined release. X'BPGH gives literally no instructions and still ended up feeling more accessible to me than ChipWizard despite being so much more alien. Food Court was definitely my favourite and D&D + Solitaire made for nice warm ups before each puzzle session. And as always it has the beautiful art style and music that Zachtronics is known for. It's definitely a collection aimed at the fans and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else, but if you've got the others you'll find something of value here for sure.

10/10 would fall into a prison of my own flesh again.

Phenomenal game filled with fascinating content. It feels like a consortium of fun games that tingles your childlike fascination while offering challenging puzzles.

The only part that makes me sad is that a lot of the games presented feel like sketches made for future games (Zachtronics said this was their last). Theses experiences give you a glimpse into an alternate future where they decided to keep going and offer new games.

lovely collection of puzzles! honestly I didnt love a lot of them but they're so varied and all feature an infinite mode once you beat the main list of puzzles ive spent like 28 hours on dungeons and diagrams alone that one is peak. go play it

ive optimised everything IMFINEXD>? IMFINE?